Vet cost are ridiculous!!!

[Jodi Edsall]

Murphy, my 1 1/2 year old goldendoodle, has had an ear infection since the summer. This is the third trip to the vet, and it has cost me hundreds of dollars and the poor thing still has the ear infection. The vet said it is probably allergies and continue with flushing the ears out daily to get all the debri out. I am suppose to go back in two weeks for a check up, and of course that will be another vet bill. I wouldn't mind paying all these bills if Murphy was getting better. Sorry, about complaining but I needed to vent.....

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I don't remember ever paying for follow-up vet visits. Over a life time I have used 4-5 different vets in 3 different towns.

[Jodi Edsall]

When I came into the vets, I asked the receptionist if I was going to be charged $42 for an office visit since this was the third time that I was there for the same problem that has never been cured? She said that I would be charged the $42. I left with the same info and the same advise as I did the last two previous visits. Then they wanted me to make an appointment for 2 weeks to see how Murphy is doing. No way!!!! Like I said, I have spent hundreds of dollars for them to tell me to continue to clean his ears and possibly use Benedryl for some relief.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

No such luck here. I will ask tho on friday. But my visits usually require an ear exam of sme sort and a swab.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I am going to try to negotiate something with my vet friday as this will be his second re-check and then he will need to be seen at least 2 more times and possibly more swabs. And two more is only if we get this infection beat within the next month! If not, could be lots more. all for the same issue. ARRGGGHHHH

[Kathie and the gang]

Didn’t check to see if anyone is here is California, but I have found that there is a big different in charges between areas. Winston's surgery to remove a sock that would not pass was 1450.00 and x-rays were 650.00.
Four months later we are at our Bend, Oregon house, another sock, more x-rays, charge this time 450.00. We were lucky and no surgery, he passed the sock. My Vet in Bend said he would charge 650.00 for the surgery, because it was fairly straightforward.
It was the same when I had him neutered. My California Vet 450.00 for a large dog. My Bend Vet 125.00 for a large dog. The decision of which Vet to use was not hard. I just planned Winston's surgery around my next trip to Bend, worked out great. I love both my Vets, but I love the Bend prices even more.
Of course there has been one ear infection 90.00 (including meds), and the puppy shots (can't remember what I paid)
I would guess that the difference in charges is the overhead, salaries and space cost more in California. So in a year I have spent a little over 2800.00, and Winston isn't even dealing with chronic medical issues. Although the sock issue might fall under that classification.

[Missi]

That's true even in Wichita! I don't remember exact numbers, but when Lizzie was so sick we had blood cultures, joint aspirations and xrays done at both my in-town vet and her "country" vet. It was a third of the price out there! But my vet operates a full surgical "hospital" and has state-of-the art human-quality equipment. So I figure I'm paying more for better care. When Lizzie got parvo as a puppy, they had her on IV fluids, IV med pushes, and in ICU isolation with constant supervision. I don't think a "country" vet with less staff and technology could have pulled her through that. So perhaps that is some of the price differences, besides merely space costs.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

I am not vet, dont pretend to be one and dont play one on TV.

BUT

adding moisture to the ear even in the form of a prescribed ear wash and cream can be the culprit to the bacteria that is growing and causing the infection.

I would opt for a dry treatment such as Thornit Powder
You can not purchase it in the United States already made you can however have your local pharmacy make it up for you for about $10.00.

Heres a recipe for Thornit if anyone fancies making up their own.

Treat as follows with either Thornit or you can make up your own version of Thornit (which is the same as below but includes talc) with ingredients from your chemist.

4 oz. zinc oxide powder
4 oz. boric acid powder
1/2 oz. Iodoform powder

Mix well. Keep in a sealed jar in a cool dry place.

Maintenance

Place a large pinch of powder in each ear (I use a quarter of a tsp measuring spoon) and use your finger to work it down. Allow the dog to shake, but leave the excess powder in the ears. Repeat monthly.

Treating an existing infection

Use as described for maintenance morning and evening.

Use a dry Q-tip to remove all the powder and the balls of dried gunk. Clean with sterile saline solution/Colloidal Silver anything that does not sting.

Put a fresh pinch of powder in each ear. Repeat daily until the ears are no longer runny. At this point, repeat every other day, until there is no more runniness, then three times a week, then twice, then weekly, then every other week, etc. When the ears remain dry for three weeks, go to the monthly maintenance routine.

How it works

The iodoform powder kills anaerobic bacteria and fungi which flourish in warm, moist, airless places. The zinc oxide and boric acid keep the ear dry, which prevents further infections. In the days before antibiotics, Iodoform was frequently used in human medicine to pack puncture wounds where anaerobic bacteria also grow. It may be hard to find because it isn't used much any more.


The problem with malotic acid is that it comes in a liquid form and the inner ear stays wet if you are using it daily. Ears are like caves and become dank, the heat and moisture promotes bacteria growth.

[Jodi Edsall]

Thank you for this advise, I will try it. With taking Murphy to the vets for the third time, I am frustrated and getting no closer to curing Murphy's ear infections.

By the way, my vet has just built a brand new office building, it is huge and gorgeous. I am really considering changing vets. I don't want to sound cheap but I don't like a couple of things they did:

1. I took Bailey, my 2 1/2 year old F1B goldendoodle, in for exrays because I thought that she may have eaten a sock (she has a bad habit of that) and was throwing up. They charge me an office visit and exrays which was fine. But when they brought Bailey back to me after getting her exrays the vet said I gave her a shot to calm down her stomach. He didn't even tell me that he was going to give her a shot and when I went to check out they charged me $76. for the shot and then prescibed two other medications for an upset stomach. My total bill for her tummy ache was close to $300.

2. Last visit, when I took Murphy in for his ear infections, I got home and looked over my bill and they charged me $18.75 for a stool sample. I never brought in a stool sample!!!! I called them and they said that they were sorry and would credit that amount next time I come in.

I am new to this vet office and really liked that there are 6 vets so you can always get an appointment easily but I am having my doubts.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

yea I dont like that either~

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Some of the liquid ear cleaners, like Epi-Otic, have a drying agent in them. So they don't add to the moisture problem, in fact, the opposite.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I'm not sure the Thornit will cure pseudomonas and entericocci which are two of the bacteria that Murphy's culture found. Do you know if it is that specific? These bacteria are very resistant to some antibiotics. I have been using the TEP powder that I got from Canada and I think it is called Thornit as well. Didn't cure it, but his ears did get a little less runny. But when he had pain when our other dog would just touch his ears while playing, I knew it wasn;t getting to the root of the problem.

I will use it as maintenance when we are done with antibiotics tho. It does make sense to me and my breeder recommends it. ANd since April is my doodle guru, I do what she tells me. ;o)